Method of and apparatus for testing



June 12, 1928. 1,672,963 I w. A. sTRAw METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING Filed Aug. 9, 1924 Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER ADDISON STRAW, OF WHEATON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 01 NEW YORK.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING.

Application filed August 9, 1924. Serial No. 731,034.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for testing, and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for testing the individual strands of composite strands.

In assembling composite strands'such as doubled cotton it is desirable that the individual strands be subjected to substantially equaltension during the doubling operation. When composite strands are to be served around a core as is frequently done in insulating electrical conductors it is essential in order to obtain a smooth uniform covering that the individual strands shall have been tensione'l to the same degree during their assembly, and that no loose ends exist anywhere in the composite strand.

The object of this invention is to determine whether a composite strand has been properly and uniformly assembled.

In order to accomplish this objec in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a composite strand such as doubled cotton is unwound from a cop on to a reeling device, the individual strands being separated as they leave the cop and reassembled as they reach the reeling device. While in their separated state they pass individually through hooks attached to members of equal weight which are allowed to move freely in a vertical direction on suitable standards. The difference in the height of the members serves to readily and'visually indicate the relative length of the individual strands.

The invention will be more fully described in the following specification and the detailed drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation. partly in section, of a mechanism embodying the in vention:

Fig. 2 is a vertical section along the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows:

Fig. 3 is a vertical section along the'lines 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. and i ,Fig. 4 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals are employed to designate similar members throughout the several views. the numeral it) refers generally to a main frame for the machine comprising a base 11. a pair of upright members 12 and 13 and an upper cross member 14. Suitably mounted on the base 11 is a vertical member 15 to which is secured in any suitable manner a support 16 for rotatably mounting a cop 17. A nut. 18 and a washer 19 associated with the support 16 prevent the cop from becoming displaced. Adjacent to the upright member 15 and on the base 11 is mounted a bracket 20 to which is pivotally attached a braking member 21. A spring 22 is employed for bolding the brake member 21 in engagement with the cop 17. Intermediate the upright member 15 and the pair of uprights 12 and 13 are upright guide members or standards 23. Slidably mounted on each standard 23 is a weight 24 provided with a book 25.

Attached to the upper portion of the upper cross member 14 are guides 26. Adjacent thereto. and mounted on the cross member 14 is a reassembling member 27 the tip of which is suitably sha ed to permit the passage of the reassembled composite strand 28 therethrough.

Suitably positioned in relationshi to the testing device is a reeling device 0 a suitable type designated generally by the numeral 30. Referring more-particularly to Fig. 3 in which the reeling device 30 is shown in section. 31 designates generally a frame comprising a base section 32 and an upright portion 33 having an apertured portion 34. Secured within the a ertured portion 34 by a nut 35 is a stud-s aft 36. Secured to the stud-shaft 36 by a pin 37 is a gear housing 38 adapted to enclose agear 39 mounted on a shaft 40 which is rotatably journaled in the housing 38. The gear 39 is so positioned as to mesh with a pinion 41 which is integrally connected with a sleeve 42 which is rotatably positioned upon the stud-shaft 36. The sleeve 42 has attached thereto a plurality of equally spaced members 43 which taken collectively from a reel designated generally by the numeral 44. Suitably attached to the shaft 40 is a hand operated crank handle 45 by means of which together with the gear 39-and the pinion 41, the reel 44 is revolved.

The operation of the mechanism above described is as follows: The cop 17 is placed in position and the tension to be applied thereto is controlled by means of the braking member 21. The individual strands of the composite strand are hooked underneath the hooks 25, passed through corresponding guides 26, reassembled by the reassembling member 27 and suitably attached to the reel -14 so as to allow take-up thereon. The weights 24 are held at a uniform level until sufficient turns are taken on the reel by rotating the handle 45 to insure uniform tension throughout the several strands after which the weights are released. Upon the further rotation of the handle 45 the tension or slackness of the individual strands can be gauged by the relative positions of the weights. A broken strand will allow the corresponding weight to drop to the base of its standard, the broken strand being definitely located thereby.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for testing composite strands. means for separating the individual strands thereof, means for advancing the individual strands, means for simultaneously and independently applying a force to the individual strands of the composite strand while being advanced, and means for reassembling the separated individual strands.

2. In an apparatus for testing composite strands, means for separating the individual strands thereof, means for advancing the individual strands, means for indicating the degree of slackness in one of the individual strands as compared with that in another of the individual strands, and means for reassembling the individual strands into a composite strand.

3. In an apparatus for testing a composite strand, a plurality of upright members, members of equal weight slidably secured on the upright members for engaging the individual strands, means for separating and re-assembling the individual strands, said means designed so that the separated strands are of substantially uniform length, and means for advancing the composite strand.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 31st day of July A. D., 1924.

WALTER ADDISON STRAW. 

